SWEAR

I. verb (swore; sworn; ~ing) Etymology: Middle English sweren, from Old English swerian; akin to Old High German swerien to ~ and perhaps to Old Church Slavic svarŭ quarrel Date: before 12th century transitive verb to utter or take solemnly (an oath), 2. to assert as true or promise under oath , to assert or promise emphatically or earnestly , 3. to put to an oath ; administer an oath to, to bind by an oath , to invoke the name of (a sacred being) in an oath, to bring into a specified state by ~ing , intransitive verb to take an oath, to use profane or obscene language ; curse , ~er noun II. noun Date: 14th century oath , ~word